06 March 2010

SANDAKAN: Industrial Development Minister and Tanjung Papat Assemblyman Datuk Raymond Tan will continue to push for more Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representatives to be appointed as Sandakan Municipal Councilors.

“I am disappointed to note that only three out of the seven NGO representatives that we recommended are included in the 2010-2011 councilors line up,” Tan said to reporters after presenting letters of Offer for the Gum Gum Gousing Programme for the People to 14 families from Kampung Sim Sim Tengah yesterday.
Tan said he submitted the names of seven NGO representatives for the Gerakan quota but only three namely from the Young Malaysian Movement (YMM), Sabah Chinese Women Association and Sandakan Hawkers Association were accepted.
“These NGO representatives consist of professionals whose expertise and contribution can help further enhance the Sandakan Municipal Council services to the public,” Tan said.
Tan said his recommendation to retain Sandakan Chinese Chamber of Commerce secretary Stephen Wong Tien Fatt as councilor for one of the seven NGO representatives because the letter had done a good job during the precious term but unfortunately it was turned down.
“Sandakan won the “Most Clean Town” award last year when Wong headed the Sandakan Municipal Council Health sub-committee,” Tan said.
Tan believed the decision to turn down the reappointment of Wong as Councilor for the new term has nothing to do with politics or Wong’s involvement in the coal fired power plant campaign, adding that he decided to re-nominate him (Wong) for another term because he has performed well.
“This is not the first time the candidate from Sandakan Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) recommended by me has been rejected. Four years ago, I recommended Wong, we didn’t get it but I tried again the following term and he was appointed,” Tan said.
Tan said he would continue to push for representatives from SCCC and other NGOs to be appointed as Councilors in the coming terms.
Meanwhile on the Letters of Offer for the Gum Gum Housing Programme for the People he presented to the fourteen families, Tan said their houses at Kampung Sim Sim Tengah have to make way for the construction of a new Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) jetty.
The Minister also handed a gas cooker each to the fourteen families.
He added that he would seek the assistance of the local authorities to look for alternative housing for the remaining sixty families at Kampung Sim Sim Tengah because the structures they are living in are rather old and the infrastructure are worn.

(Source: New Sabah Times)